Picture tells a thousand words

Look at this picture and guess where it is:

Source: Malaysiakini

If I am guessing correctly, this is at the photo exhibition commemorating Malaysia's 50 years of nationhood at the Petronas Art Gallery. And I am guessing based on what I gleaned from this Malaysiakini report.

To think that Anwar is officially a pariah in the eyes of the BN government which treats Petronas as its kitty litter, I am surprised that an old picture of him being greeted and cheered by a big crowd is allowed to grace the wall of the exhibition, and in a Petronas' owned gallery as well!

Anyway, Anwar says his piece about the last minute cancellation of an international Muslim-Christian dialogue, The Building Bridges conference, which is chaired by the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams. The conference was supposed to be held here in KL from May 7-11. It was held elsewhere annually since six years ago. I quote:

“Is this what is projected of the so-called moderate Muslim; no understanding and respect for dialogues or dissenting views even, then here it is a great tragedy for Malaysians. We stand to lose more than the organisers,” he said.

(for full article, click here)

Dr M has an answer for the seeming increasing religious intolerance in this nation, and I quote him from the 3rd part of his interview with Malaysiakini:

Go back to the teachings of Islam. These things become a problem because of interpretations. Go back and find out what is it that Islam wants you to do in such cases. Go back to the Quran. It’s there.

When asked further on the various cases that happened recently, this is what he offered:

Do you agree with what the religious authorities did? That R Subashini should be separated from her children?

Is that what the Quran suggests? I don’t think so.

You don’t think so?

I don’t think so. The problem is that it is difficult for non-Muslims to even talk or question this. We are living in such a climate of fear, that it’s not easy to be up front in this debate...

Since the Pak Lah administration claims there's more openness and transparency now, it's time for him to walk the talk and show us the result. What we're seeing now is increasing intimidation and repression of the religious rights of Malaysians.